Armstrong World Industries is breaking it off with its European flooring business as well as discontinue funding for its DLW subsidiary, which filed for insolvency in Germany as a result.

"Our difficult, but necessary, decision to exit the European flooring business and discontinue funding our DLW subsidiary in Germany was the culmination of a comprehensive evaluation of strategic alternatives following years of disappointing results, multiple restructuring initiatives and significant financial investments," said Armstrong CEO Matthew Espe.

During a recent Goldman Sachs investor conference, analyst Matt Fassler described Tractor Supply as “one of the most unique differentiated growth stories in retail.”

That was the cue for CEO Greg Sandfort to share some of the Brentwood, Tenn.-based company’s insights into its large and growing brand of farm-and-ranch retailing. And he shredded a few myths of rural retailing in the process.

When HCN first visited Millington, Tenn.-based Cole’s Home Solutions with a cover story in our August 2009 issue, we cautioned: “Now for something completely different.”

When we first talked to co-owner Charles Cole, he expressed admirable ambition: “We knew we had to remodel the store, because Lowe’s was kicking our butts,” Cole said. “And we don’t want to be just another big box.”

Earlier this week, the federal antitrust review and bankruptcy court approved Lowe's $205 million bid. In comments to investors Wednesday, Niblock said he expected the deal to close at the end of August.

Masonite International Corporation has filed to become a U.S. reporting company on the New York Stock Exchange, with plans to withdraw its previous Form S-1 registration statement after a proposed $150 million initial public offering in February.

Additionally, the company applied for the listing of its common shares under the "DOOR" ticker symbol.

Doug Miller, former president of Jensen Distribution, will take over as interim CEO of Handy Hardware.

"This is an important milestone for the future growth of Handy Hardware and I am pleased to lead this organization, which has enjoyed outstanding support and loyalty from its members and industry partners," Miller said.

Great American Group is handling liquidation sales at eight Orchard Supply Hardware locations.

The eight stores, located in Citrus Heights, Fairfield, Huntington Beach, Lone Tree, Long Beach, Midtown, Newark and Vacaville, were approved for liquidation as part of the company's First Day Motions after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was acquired by Lowe's as part of an initial stalking-horse bid.

Great American Group won the bidding process to manage the store closing sales and has been managing the eight locations since June 29.

Following its asset acquisition deal with Lowe's, Orchard Supply Hardware is moving forward with its effort to close underperforming stores and has won approval to seek bids from liquidators to hold going-out-of-business sales.